Michael Mina’s and Ken Tominaga’s PABU Boston at the Millennium Toweris not your average sushi bar. Located in Boston’s Millennium Tower, it fits right in with the posh, swanky ambiance there and takes Japanese cuisine to the next level.
PABU is a welcome addition to the Boston dining scene, both for its staff credentials and location. Chef / Partner Michael Mina has earned countless awards and recognitions, including Michelin stars and a James Beard Award for Best Chef, and Chef / Partner Ken Tominaga is a Japanese cuisine legend best known for Hana in Sonoma, CA. If that weren’t impressive enough, the venue is situated within the Millennium Tower, which is exciting in its own right as a brand new luxury apartment building in Downtown Boston.
I was lucky enough to attend the PABU preview party last week and can’t wait to share the experience with you all! Read on to see the gorgeous decor and delicious bites offered at PABU (open to the public on 11/1).
One thing I noticed was that the staff all seemed happy and got along, which created a fun and positive atmosphere right off the bat.
Five men brought out a ginormous 650 lb tuna which was prepared for sushi in just 10-15 minutes!
It really doesn’t get fresher than that! The tuna was perfect – it melted in your mouth and wasn’t too chewy.
The hand rolls were some of the best I’ve had – the tuna was obviously super fresh, the seaweed was perfectly salty, and the rice was warm and soft. I think we ate about 5 of these each and we could have easily had more!
Even the standard makimono – from California Rolls to Unagi (eel) Rolls are more delicious here. Everything is just such high quality and made to perfection.
The Avocado Cucumber Hand Roll on the left is great for vegetarians, and the Spicy Salmon Hand Roll on the right was my favorite of the night! It had a kick to it, but wasn’t too spicy.
These Happy Spoons were another big hit – with Plymouth Rock Oyster, Ponzu Creme Fraiche, Tobiko, Ikura, and Uni. They had a multi-dimensional flavor profile, including salty seafood and bright notes.
My sweet tooth loved this dessert dish! It was cranked out of a machine, and the texture is actually very light and airy layers of strawberry shaved ice. At the bottom are rice-based gummies which were so yummy!
Did I mention that I met the legendary Michael Mina and renowned Ken Tominaga? That happened! They are both super nice and humble. It was such an honor and inspiration to meet people who are so passionate about what they do, and are absolute masters of their crafts!
From the ultra-fresh seafood, to the posh decor, we felt perfectly wined and dined at PABU. It’s safe to say that this was the most special sushi venue we’ve been to yet! Be sure to come see for yourself what is sure to be one of the top sushi and Japanese spots in Boston! PABU opens to the public on 11/1/2016.
Comment Challenge: What is your favorite sushi dish?
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